El Ixtapa - Medical Lake

Loved. This. Place. I was in Washington for training with some friends, and one of my favorite things to do while traveling is to try some of the local restaurants. If you're ever in the vicinity of Fairchild AFB or even Spokane for that matter, this is a must-stop location. The place is located in the heart of a little town. Parking is plentily available on the street. Upon arriving, we were greeted promptly and courteously by the host. Service remained amazing over the course of our visit. After perusing the menu, we ordered queso to start. It appeared to be made fresh in the restaurant. Waitstaff continued to bring out complimentary chips and salsa to ensure that we would get our fill. The chips and salsa also seemed like they were freshly made in-house. The menu had standard Mexican-American fare, but the enchiladas verdes caught my eye. Interestingly enough, they were served with pork which made for a nice twist. The result was some of the most amazing and savory Mexican food I've had. The tomatillo sauce was absolutely fantastic, and there was enough to mix with the side of rice if that's your thing as well. As you can see, portions are generous, and pricing was pretty great too. Definitely check this place out!

Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $50–100 Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Recommended dishes: Chips and Salsa, Chimichanga, Chicken Enchiladas

Delicious food with wonderful service! Service: Take out Meal type: Lunch

Service: Dine in Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $20–30 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Recommended dishes: Tamali Chili Riano Combo, Chile Verde, Enchiladas Verde, Chicken En Mole, Carnitas Enchilada Plate, Chili Relleno

I have lived in Southern California and South Texas, so I've had more than my fair share of Mexican food. The chile verde in this restaurant is spot on. It was delicious and there was enough to feed me for three meals. The michelada tasted okay, the proportions of the drink or definitely off; they probably don't sell a lot of those up here, so I didn't fault them for it in my star rating. I haven't been there when it's busy, so I can't speak to the service during busy times, but it was good when I was there. The decor could use a little updating, if that concerns you. If the food's good, I don't care that the restaurant looks a little dated. It's clean, that's all that matters to me. I very much enjoyed the food here and will definitely be returning.